More to come…
Million Battles to the Podium in Tough Penultimate Rounds at COTA
More to come…
Highs and Lows: Million Pushes Through Hardship to Win at NOLA
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Matt Million pushed through weekend long adversity to come home with a win during Rounds 7 & 8 of the 2018 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central.
Friday saw Million's first impressions of the NOLA Motorsports Park circuit, "It's certainly a different challenge compared to the past races at Road Atlanta and COTA. It's very flat, slick, short lap with a high average speed!"
Series testing on Friday saw plenty of mixed condition practice sessions. From dry in the morning, to raining by afternoon, and drying again by the final sessions of the day. Million felt that these challenges added positively to his learning curve this season and at this circuit.
Saturday saw a much more calm weather forecast, with no rain expected. Million had topped the time charts in a few sessions on Friday and was ready to transfer the speed into qualifying. However, a whining gearbox that had been prevalent for much of the day before had finally found its end, failing at the end of Saturday's qualifying session. Million would start the race in fourth position, but his current car was unable to be repaired in time, he was reverted to a backup car. Million's first laps in the backup would occur in the race, where it quickly became obvious that it was not in a competitive form, and Million fell back from the lead group throughout the race. Million finished fifth.
Sunday was looking to see fortunes change for Million, as it was elected to repair the main car instead of use the noncompetitive backup. Million tested the repaired car in warm up, and everything felt alright. There was no qualifying session on Sunday, therefore the grid would be set by the previous day's qualifying session, meaning Million would again start fourth. The race got underway, and the difference from Saturday's race was immediately noticeable. On the opening lap, Million found himself passing for third, only to shift down again to fourth, and back up to third before the line. A three car breakaway formed at the front, as Million sat patiently behind the two leaders fighting each other hard each lap. A little over halfway, and Million began to make moves, with an outside pass right before the start/finish on second place before passing for the lead on the exit of turn 1. From there, Million maintained his lead and grew the gap into over 3 seconds before crossing the line for his second victory of the 2018 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series.
Less than a week after this, the Spec MX-5 Challenge Series headed to Circuit of the Americas for the second rounds of a two weekend double header at the 2018 NASA National Championships.
Vital Learning Experience for Million at Road Atlanta Against East Series Drivers
BRASELTON, GA - Matt Million leaves the middle of the season Spec MX-5 Challenge East vs Central showdown at Road Atlanta solidifying his points, capturing a double podium with a 2nd and 3rd for the Central Series, however was left yearning for more.
12 competitors entered the combined East vs Central series.
FRIDAY: Arriving at Road Atlanta on Friday morning for practice day would be the first time Million had been to the facility. "Driving in, you are struck by the steepness of the circuit running down out of the bridge and into the start/finish line, I can't wait to get started!" Million would be driving the white #07 Spec MX-5 in the weekend, as the series assigned cars at random to the drivers. After the first few sessions, Million had a few takeaways. "This place is ever bit as fast, flowing, and wild as I trained for! Turn 1 is a huge commitment, and diving out of T3 into the esses flat out is like nothing I've experienced in a race car!" Million felt like his simulator training had paid off, and after studying data through each car's AIM Solo 2 software, it was clear that Million was a top 3 competitor on pace... except for the long backstraight that was. Each lap saw an average of 7/10th's of a second lost per lap on the straight, which would unfortunately play a large part in Million's weekend.
SATURDAY: Million learned post Friday practice that the Spec MX-5 he was assigned had a considerable power deficit in the form of a fresh, not broken-in engine and a fresh differential. The series agreed to try and compensate by removing the weight ballast, which offered little to no benefit. Million decided on a qualifying plan to separate from the pack and work with fellow East series competitor John Allen. To much the shock and surprise of Million, he set the 4th fastest time of the 12 competitors, much better than anticipated. Data analysis after the session showed about a half second loss on the backstraight, which without would have placed Million well into the top 2.
The race got underway and Million was able to retain his 4th position through the start. However, it quickly became apparent that the race was to become a steep uphill battle. Million could retain the pace of the top 3 from T1 to T7 and defend with relative ease as there was a lack of passing opportunities in this section of the circuit. Once onto the long backstraight, Million was unable to defend his lack of power, and would loose a position or two every lap into T10, only then to be stuck behind slower competitors through the tighter parts of the circuit. Thankfully for Million, the race only lasted 3 laps before another class of vehicle caused a full course yellow, and effectively ended the race. Million fell back to 6th, however was 2nd in the Central series.
SUNDAY: With no qualifying session on Sunday, the grid was set using the previous days' qualifying, meaning Million would have to do his best to defend from 4th yet again. Unfortunately, little change was in the cards. The race was underway and Million slotted to 4th before loosing two positions on the backstraight the first and second laps, and two more there before the race ended. Million had to claw back a 5 car length deficit each lap from T1 to T7 and was able to, but did not have the torque or speed to make any long lasting passes stick. Million finished 8th, confident of his own speed but had become a product of the situation.
The next Spec MX-5 Challenge Series event for Million is at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 7-9.
Promising Prospects Turned Slippery Setback for Million at COTA
AUSTIN, TX - Fresh off a successful winning weekend at NCM Motorsports Park in March, Matt Million was ready to roll the momentum into the Lone Star state for the next round of Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central at Circuit of the America's in Austin, however similar fortune was not to occur. Rain had been in the forecast for the early part of the weekend and became a reality as the dark, dense rain clouds covered the circuit early Friday morning before practice day.
Like at NCM, the rain came and down it poured. However, this rain came with heavy thunderstorms and lightning striking nearby, canceling on-track activity for the morning. Waiting out the lightning, the Spec MX-5 drivers finally got track time in the late afternoon still with light rain showers. Million would finish the rainy test day within the top 2 fastest cars, giving a nice confidence boost entering the race on Saturday.
The rain clouds lifted and made way for the sun Saturday morning, giving drivers their first chance in dry conditions. Million went on to set the fastest time in morning warm-up. Qualifying saw the tides turn from previous sessions, with Million qualifying 4th within the 6 car pack of series drivers. As the race got underway, Million got caught up in battles with those around him as the leaders got out ahead, and he would finish where he started in 4th.
Sunday started off looking like a better day for Million, focusing forward and putting in a qualifying effort of 3rd, within a tenth or two from the front row. The race also started in a much better way, as Million was able to keep on the heels of the leaders for the first half of the race before making a move and slotting into 2nd for the final half. Shortly after, Million began suffering from a left-rear hub failure, causing his Yokohama tire to shred down to the cords and loose massive amounts of grip. He would fall back to 4th and luckily still finish, as a similar failure took another 2 competitors out of the race.
The next round of Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central will take place from June 8-10 at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Jennings, Oklahoma. Million will enter the weekend 2nd in points and looking for a change in fortune.
Million Victorious in the Rain in Inaugural Spec MX-5 Central Weekend
BOWLING GREEN, KY - Matt Million takes home the first win of the new Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central at NCM Motorsports Park on Saturday, along with a second place finish on Sunday.
"It's been a great start to the weekend" said Million during dry Friday testing, "This circuit is easily the most flowing and technical I've ever driven, it's so rewarding when you can nail a section right. These MX-5 Cup cars are awesome, the amount of speed you can carry into corner (compared to a Spec Miata) is outstanding! These Yokohama's have endless grip and bring out the best in the car!"
Race day on Saturday saw the skies darken with rain, and it would continue that way without stop. Million qualified second in the session as it drizzled with rain. "It wasn't an ideal qualifying, I would have benefited from another lap with less traffic, but it means I'll work on getting a fast lap in earlier next time!" The race saw the drizzle turn into a small storm, and Million ran clean and smooth in second place before the wet surface caused the leader to make a mistake ahead, allowing Million to capitalize and take the lead. "As soon as I got ahead, I focused on being collected and smart. Running at the limit in the rain is daunting especially having never done it before, and now I find myself leading!" Million went on to win unopposed, "It's a truly great feeling, experiencing all your work and preparations get rewarded so early, and especially to do it in the rain was awesome. I can't get myself too caught up in this moment though, I have to race hard tomorrow and continue a championship caliber performance!"
Sunday brought with it new challenges, with the biggest being the weather; dry! Million qualified second and finished second, but not without a race-long three way battle for the lead with all three competitors leading at some point. Million took an early lead after a clean pass into T1, and held it before a close battle saw a mistake between the two leaders put third place into the lead late on. Battling continued until the checkered fell, and Million was second. "It was such a close and frantic race, very different from Spec Miata racing. Intense and fast paced in small packs, you really can't make any mistakes if you want to win!"
"Overall, the first weekend turned out extremely positive and it was a great experience, the Spec MX-5 / Winding Road Racing team is exceptionally professional and I look forward to strengthening our relationship into the next round in Austin and throughout the season!"
As said in The Art of Racing in the Rain, "That in which you manifest is before you"
Matt Million Announces 2018 Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Central Region Entry
SAN MARCOS, CA - Matt Million is pleased to officially announce his full season 2018 program as a participant in the inaugural Spec MX-5 Challenge Series, Central Region. The series was founded and will be run through two teams, Atlanta Speedwerks for the east region and Winding Road Racing for the central region (where Matt will compete). Both regions will race 10 times on 5 different weekends before a combined series finale at Road Atlanta, where the cumulative points winner will take home a $100,000 scholarship and another fortunate driver will receive an invite to the 2018 Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. The cars are the former NC Mazda MX-5 Cup cars, and will run with Yokohama Tires and PAGID Brakes, both are official series partners. The first central region race kicks off March 23-25 at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.